When I moved to Bahrain, I came with the mindset of a language teacher ready to explore, eager to understand, and above all, convinced that language was the most powerful key to connecting with people.
And while that’s still true, I’ve learned that language alone isn’t enough. Not on its own. You can learn how to say hello, thank you, how to ask for directions or order food. But there’s something deeper that only comes when you begin to live the culture that holds the language together.
Language Is More Than Vocabulary
In my early days here, I practiced a few Arabic expressions, and they helped me get by. But the real learning began when I started noticing the things people don’t say the small gestures, the way they greet one another, how they show respect, how they gather.
That’s when I realized: language is more than words. It’s the tone, the silence, the way something is offered, and the rhythm of daily life. It’s in the stories people tell and even in the ones they don’t.
As a Spanish teacher, I see the same thing in reverse. When I teach Spanish here, I’m not just explaining grammar I’m introducing a way of thinking, of expressing emotion, of relating to others. I’m sharing a cultural map, not just a vocabulary list.
Sitting on the Floor, Eating with My Hands
One of the moments that stayed with me was the first time I was invited to a traditional Bahraini Dinner. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I definitely didn’t imagine myself sitting cross legged on the floor, eating with my right hand from a shared platter of rice and lamb. No cutlery. No plates. Just hands, closeness, and a spirit of generosity.
And yes it was spicy! I wasn’t ready for that. But someone kindly passed me a spoonful of yogurt and said, “Try this, it helps.” It did. Ever since that day, I’ve learned to always bring yogurt with me when I’m invited somewhere traditional it’s become a running joke.
But beyond the food and the laughter, what touched me most was how natural it felt to be welcomed. Here, it was about unity. Sharing. Togetherness.
A Deeper Understanding of Family
That day meal taught me more than I could’ve imagined. It made me see what family means here how sacred it is to be together. Parents, kids, cousins, grandparents… all around one dish, talking, smiling, fully present.
In my culture, family is important too, but life moves fast. Sometimes we lose those moments. But here, every Friday, families come together like it’s the most natural and necessary thing in the world.
It changed something in me. It made me rethink what it means to belong, to share time, to be part of something bigger than myself.
The Kind of Learning That Changes You
When people ask me what it’s like to teach Spanish in Bahrain, I never know where to start. Because teaching here has taught me just as much as I try to teach my students.
I’ve come to believe that learning a language isn’t just about fluency or correctness it’s about opening a door. A door to the way others live, think, feel, and love. And once you walk through it, you never look at the world the same way again.
